Birmingham
Birmingham has a rich heritage as a centre for jewellery manufacturing and trade, with its historic Jewellery Quarter still home to hundreds of workshops and businesses. For UK jewellers, wholesalers, and suppliers, the city remains a vital hub for production, design, and distribution. Jewellery Focus covers Birminghamโs role in the industry, from updates on local businesses and manufacturing trends to insights into policy developments and events shaping the trade. Our reporting helps professionals understand the cityโs continuing influence on the UK jewellery sector.
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Jul- 2020 -17 JulyTips
Going online – John Lewis closes down eight stores as Covid progresses
Following the havoc caused by COVID-19, the John Lewis Partnership has shocked the world with a difficult decisionโpermanently closing down eight stores, where 1,300 workers are now at risk of losing employment.ย โClosing a shop is always incredibly difficult and todayโs announcement will come as very sad news to customers…
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8 JulyAuctions
Fellows returns to live auctions
Fellowsโ upcoming fine jewellery sale will mark its first live public auction in four months. The sale will take place at Fellowsโ Jewellery Quarter sale room in Birmingham, with viewings at both Fellowsโ premises in London and Birmingham. The auction, which has a total value of over ยฃ1.2m, will be…
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3 JulyEvents
JWF and Autumn Fair 2020 cancelled
Hyve, the organiser of Autumn Fair and co-located Jewellery & Watch and Fashion (JWF), has announced the cancellation of both events this year. In light of the ongoing pandemic, the four-day Autumn Fair will return to the NEC Birmingham on 5 September 2021. The Spring Fair, however, will still be…
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Jun- 2020 -29 JuneCoronavirus
Watches of Switzerland donates ยฃ100k to food banks
Watches of Switzerland and Mappin and Webbโs parent group, the Watches of Switzerland group, has donated ยฃ100,000 in emergency funds to UK food banks during the Covid-19 crisis.ย The group said it recognised an โurgent needโ for food bank funding after these facilities faced soaring demands in light of the…
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22 JuneCoronavirus
Hallmarking plummets 75% in May as lockdown impact is revealed
The impact of the coronavirus on UK hallmarking has been made clear to see thanks to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office, with the total number of pieces hallmarked during the month down by 75%. The number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked in May 2020 decreased by…
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18 JuneCoronavirus
The Birmingham Assay Office launches Rainbow Logo mark to raise funds for the NHS
The Birmingham Assay Office has launched its rainbow logo mark to be applied as an optional mark alongside the hallmark and date letter for 2020 to raise money for the NHS. The rainbow logo mark will be available for a limited period from the 1 July until December 2020.ย The…
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4 JuneAppointments
Birmingham Assay office elects five new guardians
The Birmingham Assay office has announced the election of five new guardians of the standard of wrought plate. The raft of appointments include Simon Dawe, sales director of TH March, Kevin Saunders a regulatory and criminal barrister, David-Louis Hendley of Artfull Expression, alongside Russell Jeans CEO of Sefton Consulting and…
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May- 2020 -18 MayCoronavirus
Assay offices reopen following temporary closures
All four assay offices across the UK have now resumed assay services following their temporary closure in light of the ongoing pandemic.ย The British Hallmarking Council confirmed that opening hours and arrangements are now being โmanaged carefully in line with government advice to ensure the welfare of staff and the…
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7 MayCoronavirus
Birmingham Assay Office reopens gem lab amid Covid-19 pandemic
The Birmingham Assay Office has re-opened its gem lab and is now fully operational three days a week amid the Covid-19 crisis. Like many other businesses, the Birmingham Assay Office temporarily closed its doors on Tuesday 24 March for three weeks as stipulated by the government, but last month hallmarking…
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Apr- 2020 -17 AprilCoronavirus
Hallmarking falls by 35% as coronavirus impact hits
The extent to which the coronavirus outbreak has impacted UK hallmarking has been revealed as the latest figures show both the number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked during March fell by over 30% each. The number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked in March 2020 decreased by 32.3% and…
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